Sporting Kansas City was eliminated from MLS Cup contention after losing to Houston 2-1 aggreagate over the span of two games. They finished the year as US Open Cup Champions and a Kansas City team record of 63 points.

My husband got free tickets to the Chiefs game including a free parking pass. It was fun to go because we never do. The anticipation and excitement for the home opener and hopes for a new season was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Getting into the stadium, parked, and through security was pretty easy as we stayed at our car til close to kick off. The weather was gorgeous but the sun was hot. The stealth flyover was awesome as usual.

The game was great the first half. The second half sucked. The crowd was pretty much gone by midway 4th quarter. No one was beating drums or singing. No Jesus was summoning the fans to get louder. No crazy sombrerro guy punching the air. The PA played canned songs and chants that people have heard a million times and motivated few people to actually stand up and cheer. They flashed 'GET LOUD' messages on the scoreboards. Reminding fans that they actually have a job to do...

The experience felt like I was sitting in the West side of Livestrong!

The difference in mentality of the fans was so stark and shocking. The Chiefs fans have no expectation of excellence, of success, of community pride. It's gone. It's really quite sad to see. Our seats were priced at $100 each. I remarked to my husband that I could attend 5 members section games for that price. More if I had season tickets. $27 to park pays for one game and beer for Sporting. The crowd around us was predominately white and over 30. Presumably affluent as well to be able to afford $100 seats for each member of their family. Unlike at LS where you will see colors and ages and many many young children.

It's just a different experience. A whole other world. A place I love to visit but don't want to live. I felt sorry for the fans after spending so much money, time, and hope just to see a team fail them yet again.

One man in particular seemed to sum up the entire experience. We were at our car drinking our last two beers before heading home. He stumbled over to our car and barely able to form a coherent sentence asked if we had a beer he could buy. We told him no because we just finished our last two (though we wouldn't have given him one anyway) and so he stumbled onto the next car. It reminded me of what I told my husband about tailgating and getting so drunk BEFORE the game...numbing the eventual pain.

I hope we, the SKC family, never get there. I believe we won't!

__________________Meet the new boss same as the old boss.

BigChiefDave:"Anyone who thought we would only be in Iraq for a few years is either stoned or just stoopid."
"It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last 6 days, 6 wks. I doubt 6 mths." Rummy 2/7/03

Following Seattle's 2-1 victory against Chivas USA on Saturday, the San Jose Earthquakes have clinched the first berth in the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs. Four clubs out of the nine-team Western Conference will be unable to match or overtake San Jose in regular-season points, thus assuring the Earthquakes’ position as one of five teams from their conference to make the playoffs.

By securing their playoff spot seven weeks from the end of the regular season, the Earthquakes equaled the performance of the LA Galaxy last year and D.C. United in 2006 – tied for the earliest since MLS expanded beyond 12 teams.

Their qualification in 2012 marks the second postseason berth for the Quakes since their return to the league in 2008. In 2010, the team reached the Eastern Conference Championship.

The Quakes are also in pursuit of the second Supporters' Shield in club history as they lead Sporting Kansas City by three points with seven games remaining for both teams.

ABOUT THE 2012 MLS CUP PLAYOFFS

The top five teams in points from each conference at the end of the regular season (10 total) will qualify for the 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.

The fourth- and fifth-place teams in each conference will play a single knockout game, the winner of which will advance to the Conference Semifinals and face the first-place team in the conference.

The four Conference Semifinals will be decided by two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

The two Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game aggregate series, with the lower seed hosting the first leg and the higher seed hosting the second leg. If the aggregate score is tied after 180 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

MLS Cup will be a single championship match hosted by the higher seed. If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play, two 15-minute extra-time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by penalty kicks, if necessary.

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“We want players who are big, strong, smart, fast, tough and disciplined,” Pioli said, finally bringing an end to the era of Chiefs executives who searched desperately for players who are small, weak, stupid, slow, fragile and unruly.

This is the kind of half you don't want to end. Keep the momentum rolling your way.

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“We want players who are big, strong, smart, fast, tough and disciplined,” Pioli said, finally bringing an end to the era of Chiefs executives who searched desperately for players who are small, weak, stupid, slow, fragile and unruly.